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Updated:   2026-02-04

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Measure
Authors Bonta  
Coauthors: Stefani  
Subject Medi-Cal: Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver.
Relating To relating to Medi-Cal.
Title An act to amend Section 14132.991 of, and to add Section 14132.992 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal.
Last Action Dt 2025-01-23
State Introduced
Status Died
Flags
Vote Req Approp Fiscal Cmte Local Prog Subs Chgs Urgency Tax Levy Active?
Majority No Yes No None No No Y
i
Leginfo Link  
Bill Actions
2026-02-02     From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31     Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23     In committee: Held under submission.
2025-04-09     In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-03-26     Coauthors revised.
2025-03-26     From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-02-10     Referred to Com. on Health.
2025-01-24     From printer. May be heard in committee February 23.
2025-01-23     Read first time. To print.
Versions
Introduced     2025-01-23
Analyses TBD
Latest Text Bill Full Text
Latest Text Digest

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.

Under existing law, home- and community-based services (HCBS) approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services are covered for eligible individuals to the extent that federal financial participation is available for those services under the state plan or waivers granted in accordance with certain federal provisions. Existing law authorizes the Director of Health Care Services to seek waivers for any or all approvable HCBS.

Existing law sets forth provisions for the implementation of the Nursing Facility/Acute Hospital Transition and Diversion Waiver, which is the predecessor of the Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver, for purposes of providing care management services to individuals who are at risk of nursing facility or institutional placement.

This bill would recast those provisions to refer to the HCBA Waiver. The bill would delete a provision authorizing the expansion of the number of waiver slots up to 5,000 additional slots, and would instead require the enrollment of all eligible individuals who apply for the HCBA Waiver. The bill would require the department, by March 1, 2026, to seek any necessary amendments to the waiver to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to enroll all eligible individuals who are currently on a waiting list for the waiver, as specified.

The bill would require the department, by March 1, 2026, to submit a rate study to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature addressing the sustainability, quality, and transparency of rates for the HCBA Waiver. The bill would require that the study include an assessment of the effectiveness of the methods used to pay for services under the waiver, with consideration of certain factors. The bill would make related legislative findings.